Photo by Joshua Earle

In human relationships, a key need is consistency. People need to know what to expect and what the agreed-upon rules are. When life feels like there is nothing but randomness, it’s difficult for most to remain stable and sane, from the personal, all the way to the larger shared culture of a nation.

For all of their faults, the framers of the United States Constitution attempted to provide a system of expectations, that of checks and balances. One area of government is responsible for the budget, one makes laws, one evaluates laws, all of that. But in today’s United States, this has gone completely haywire. The tools of the oligarchy come from a starting place where they have a desired effect and then they work backwards, finding a means to make that effect happen.

The most recent evidence of this is the executive order blocking the right of states to enforce or regulate any laws in regard to AI. The mythical party of states’ rights has allowed an executive order that pushes forth a draconian and monarchical decree, which only they have the right to regulate this area of technological development. Even those who have been instrumental in AI construction now raise concern in regard to the basically existential threats lurking within AI, given improper or shallowly considered movement forward with that technology.

Initially, this thwarting of states’ will was placed in the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill”. Amazingly, even the most cowardly Senate we’ve seen in ages balked at this measure. The bill originally contained a 10-year complete moratorium on any state or local AI regulations. This was removed to bring about a more rapid passage of the important bulk of the bill, that of screwing over pretty much all of us in a multi-pronged attack.

What are some of the AI regulations we are speaking of? In the case of Illinois, regulations include restrictions on AI mental health counseling and certain arenas of employment decision-making through the use of AI. So, nothing crazy,........

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